Sen. Breechen: Does he know more than teachers?

By Rob Howard
Associate Editor

Despite the efforts of Oklahoma State Senator Josh Breechen, both the Oklahoma House and Senate passed joint resolutions on Monday approving new education standards for Oklahoma students. The plan, presented to the legislature by the State Department of Education (DOE), replaces Common Core, which lawmakers repealed two years ago.

The vote of approval started off the day looking uncertain. In the Senate version (SJR 75), authored by Sen. Breechen, the standards would have been “disapproved in part” and sent back to the DOE for more work. According to KFOR.com, "Last week, some lawmakers went to a forum to hear from two experts who reviewed the final drafts of Oklahoma’s academic standards for English and Math.

“Some of their concerns raised more questions for Senator Josh Breechen, who calls the standards too vague.

“’How will teachers know what’s expected from one level to the next?’ Breechen said.”

Breechen thinks he knows best when telling teachers what is expected of them. His most notable education expertise was in 2011, when he introduced a bill mandating teaching creationism alongside evolution in science classes. According to The Gazette, “Brecheen said he wants ‘valid criticisms’ of evolution allowed in Oklahoma classrooms.”

Apparently, the Senate and the House correctly assessed Sen. Breechen’s education experience. They ignored the House version that would have disapproved the standards, and instead passed HJR 1070. In the Senate, the Education Committee changed Sen. Breechen’s SJR 75 from disapproving the standards to a committee substitute amendment approving them.

Education professional organizations would have preferred that the standards were approved as written, fearing another year’s delay in their application.

The Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA) sent an email alert to its members, urging them to contact their legislators to the resolutions that approved the standards “in part.”

CCOSA summed up the benefit of the new standards in its alert:

“The Oklahoma State Department of Education adhered to the process outlined in HB 3399, the law requiring the repeal of the Common Core State Standards, for the creation of new state academic standards – involving thousands of Oklahoma parents, educators, and students as well as experts in the fields of Mathematics and English / Language Arts.

“The proposed Oklahoma Academic Standards have tremendous support from educators, business leaders, and parents. The standards have been reviewed and approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Education as well as the State Regents for Higher Education.

“The proposed Oklahoma Academic Standards are rigorous, designed to prepare students for college or career, and are the first ever state standards to be in vertical alignment. This means that teachers in all grade levels will know what is expected of their students at the next grade level.

“It is critical that schools have time to begin the process of developing curriculum and ancillary materials to support the new standards. Further delay to the standards implementation process will negatively impact Oklahoma’s public schools and the students they educate.”

Breechen ultimately supported the revised SJR 75, according to KFOR.com, “Monday, after two hours of debate in the Senate education committee, he said the new standards should be adopted with instructions for the Department of Education.

“He wants a more detailed plan, like specific books to read at each grade level.

“’My hope is that we would make the right decision to do what’s best for teachers and students and provide clarity for them,’ Breechen said.” He didn’t provide a list of books, but given his previous education efforts, legislators and parents should be alert to what might show up in the standards.

According to KGOU, “In the Senate version - legislators want more detail, and examples of learning materials, which the State Department of Education says they’ve already been working on.”

Perhaps the best thing to happen was a Senate amendment to take the legislature out of the business of approving educational standards. The Associated Press reported, “The Senate resolution approved Monday was amended to remove the Oklahoma Legislature from its role approving new standards in the future.

“Edmond Republican Sen. Clark Jolley, who wrote the amendment, says members of the Legislature aren't education experts and have no business tinkering with the state's standards.

“’We don't need to be in the business of doing this ever again,’ Jolley said.”

The resolutions approving the new standards were passed by significant majorities in both houses. According to the AP, “The House and Senate versions still must be reconciled for the standards to receive final legislative approval.”

Learn more about the academic standards at www.sde.ok.gov/sde/newstandards.

The Gayly – March 22, 2016 @ 3 p.m.